The once-clear path to the postseason for the Greenwood soccer team suddenly is strewn with rubble.

Last week, the Wildcats suffered major losses, to both their record and to their talent base.On Sept. 14, in a showdown with Tri-Valley League rival East Juniata, Greenwood was staggered by first-half injuries to its top two seniors, Jordann Ferguson and Kyle Fronk, and fell to the Tigers 4-1.

Two days later, the Wildcats saddled up a three-goal performance by exchange student Tomas Konigsberger and stormed by Bible Baptist.

Relief, however, was short-lived.

On Saturday night, still missing Ferguson and Fronk, Greenwood was stunned by three-first half goals and shut down by Lewisburg 4-0.

“Talk about bad luck,” said ‘Cat coach Tom Magill, following the loss to E.J. “We were playing well, then Jordann and Kyle went down and we lost our spark. We didn’t react well to the adversity.”

According to Magill, “We dominated, we could have gotten up early, but didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”

Then, five minutes in, Fronk, the midfield engine room of the ‘Cat offense, limped off the field after aggravating a sore hip. Five minutes later, Ferguson, the team’s three-year go-to scorer, fell awkwardly, tearing an ACL that has him scheduled for season-ending surgery in October.

In shock, the Wildcats quit working and the Tigers piled on, scoring two goals in a six-minute span, then adding a third just before halftime.

E.J. clicked for a fourth goal midway through the second half, before Konigsberger, with 45 seconds remaining, punched in a score that averted a shutout.

The ‘Cats didn’t need their stars at Bible Baptist. They simply overwhelmed the Bobcats with six scores in the first half. Konigsberger cashed an assist from Cody Ruby to start the outburst, added a second goal with help from Josh Ferguson to bump the lead to 3-0 and banged in a feed from Patrick Horting to close out the first-half scoring. Colten Fortenbaugh (assist by Tanner Barrick), Alex Potter, with a dish from Konigsberger, and Horting (off Ruby’s second assist) also fired in goals in the first 40 minutes. Aaron Smith assisted on Sal Buonocore’s second-half goal that settled the final score.

“With Ferg out, we need scoring help, period,” Magill said. “(At Bible Baptist), Tomas got himself to the near post, followed shots and finished. That’s exactly what we need him to do.”

Lewisburg was a far stiffer challenge for the ‘Cats. Magill was disappointed they didn’t respond better, especially in the first half when the Green Dragons scored on three of eight shots — including twice on corners — and held his team without a shot.

“We should be solid on defense,” Magill said. “We didn’t look that way in the first half because we were so tentative.

“That was just bad.”

Though they didn’t score in the second half, the ‘Cats were much sharper. Greenwood won its share of 50-50 balls, controlled much of the play and generated several good chances, including a pair of 40-yard shots from Potter, who has been moved from the backline to the midfield.

“Potter, in my opinion, was the only bright spot in the first half. Wherever I’ve put him, he’s been a plus,” Magill said. “He’s got a strong left foot and can be dangerous.”

The move of Potter has opened a starting defender spot for first-year senior Matt Hogan, who is proving to be a valuable pick up.